Cuttings-conveying mechanism



D. R. RICHARDS 2,271,119

CUTTINGS-CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nev. 20,- 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 arch 3E, 32.

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D. R. RICHARDS CUTTINGS-CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed NW. 20, 1939 :5 sheets-sheet 2 March 31, 1942. D. R. RICHARDS 2,278,119

CUTTINGS-CONVEYING llEGHAN I SM Filed Nov. 20, 193 9 3 Sheets-Sheet-S Patented Mar. 31, 1942 2,278,119 CUTTINGS -CONVEYING MECHANISM Dwight E. Richards, Grantham, England, assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,332

14 Claims. (Cl. 262-80) This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly to improvements in cuttingsconveying mechanism or so-called gummers especially designed for use with coal mining machines of the endless cutter chain type, for mechanically removing the cuttings or gum from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal.

In coal mining machines of the endless cutter chain type, during the cutting of a kerf in the coal the cuttings or so-called gum created by the cutter bits or picks and conveyed from the kerf by the cutter chain, pile up around the machine, so that the accumulation of the cuttings or gum hinders the most efficient operation of the machine in that they cut down the cutting efiiciency of the cutter chain. Further, if the cuttings are allowed to accumulate around the machine, the possibility eventually arises of a considerable portion of the cuttings being conveyed back into the kerf by the return run of the cutter chain, or distributed over the mine floor at points inconvenient for the satisfactory traverse of the machine over the mine fioor during the cutting of a ker-f in the coal. It has also been found that the continual churning of the cuttings .by the endless cutter chain considerably increased the power consumed in the cutting operation and further appreciably increased wear of the cutter chain parts and cutter bits or picks, and increased maintenance cost and the time consumed in changing the cutter bits and the cost of bit sharpening and replacement. Also the accumulation of the cuttings around the machine hindered the proper setting of the roof props.

A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide improved means whereby the cuttings or gum will be mechanically removed from the neighborhood of the endless cutter chain and discharged at a position where they will not hinder traverse of the machine over the mine floor and the eiiective operation of the cutter chain during the making of a cut in the .coal. Another object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism or gummer especially designed for attachment to a coal mining machine whereby the cuttings or gum will be mechanically removed from adjacency to the machine and conveyed to a convenient point of disposal. A further object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism embodying a conveyor arranged at the trailing end of the coal mining machine with its cuttings-receiving portion underlying the return run of the cutter chain whereby the cuttings are effectually removed from the path of the cutter chain. Yet another object is to provide an improved cuttingsconVeyi-ng mechanism especially designed for attachment to the trailing end of a longwall coal mining machine at the rearside of the cutter bar for removing the cuttings from adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism of the reversible type adapted to remove the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain of the coal mining machine irrespective of the direction of cutting of the machine. Still another object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism of the reversible type having improved means for controlling the position of the point of discharge of the cuttings therefrom, thereby to enabledischarge of the cuttings nearer the side of the machine farthest away from the coal. face irrespective of the direction of operation of the machine. A still further object is to provide improved cuttings-conveying mechanism having improved releasable means for attaching the same to a coal mining machine whereby the conveying mechanism may be readily and quickly attached to and detached from the mining machine. These andother objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention according to one mode may comprise a rotary conveyor member, such as a revolving table, having a marginal portion thereof underlying the orbital path of the cutter bits or picks of the inner portion of the return run of thecutter chain so that the cuttings or gum conveyed from the kerf by the cutter bits are received on the table, and associated conveying means, such as an impeller rotor, having paddle-like impeller blades or vanes which project outwardly over the top of the table so as to receive the cuttings from the table. Pusher means may be provided for positively ejecting the cut-tings from between the rotor blades or vanes, and such means may comprises pivoted pusher plates or discharge arms each of which extends between two blades or vanes and which have their pivotal movement controlled by means such as a cam, so that at the proper time the cuttings are positively ejected from between the vanes of the rotor as the rotor andtable revolve. Preferably the vanes are in the form of curved paddle-like blades and are carried by a rotor which is mounted for rotation about an upright axis,

and the table also preferably revolves coaxially with and in the same direction as the rotor. The axis of rotation of the rotor and table may be inclined slightly with respect to the vertical so that said axis is convergent with the axis of the cutter chain drive shaft of the mining machine. The cam means for controlling the movement of the pusher plates or discharge arms may direct the plates inwardly and outwardly between the vanes of the rotor, outward movement taking place when the pusher plates are approaching the discharge position and inward movement as they pass from the latter position to the place where the cuttings are received on the table. The table and rotor are preferably reversible, and the cam means for controlling the movement of the pusher plates is preferably shiftable so that the cuttings may be removed from the neighborhood of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of cutting of the mining machine and discharged in the machine track at a point nearer the side of the machine remote from the coal face. The table and rotor may be driven through a suitable overload release device, such as a dog clutch, by

gearing driven by the shaft which drives the chain sprocket which drives the cutter chain of the mining machine, and the clutch may be spring-loaded so that if obstruction is ofiered to the rotary table or rotor, slippage of the clutch may occur until such time as obstruction is removed, thereby to prevent breakage of the conveyor parts. Means is provided for detachably connecting the conveying mechanism to the mining machine and preferably comprises pivoted eye-bolts with wing nuts for engaging the conveyor frame to clamp the latter to the machine frame, and the machine may have guide brackets provided with parallel guideways for slidably receiving guides on the conveyor frame. Transposable guards may be provided for confining the I cuttings for removal by the conveyor. While the various features mentioned may all be included in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the latter is capable of wide variation in different embodiments, and accordingly reference to the appended claims should be had for an understanding of the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining machine with which the illustrative embodiment of the 'improved cuttings-conveying mechanism is associated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coal mining machine and conveying mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the cuttingsconveying mechanism, showing the same detached from the mining machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the transposable cuttings-deflecting guard.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the transposable guard at the opposite side of the conveyor frame.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cuttings-deflecting means.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 7, illustrating the shiftable cam plate.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken in the plane of Fig. '7, illustrating the cam plate locking pin.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the cutter bar in a position to effect cutting in a reverse direction, and the conveying mechanism in its reversely operating position.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the cam plate shifted into its reversed position.

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of the cam plate shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view taken substantially on line I4--I4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line I5I5 of Fig. 1.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism, generally designated I, is shown associated with a coal mining machine, generally designated 2, of the flexibly fed, longwall, floor cutter type. It will be evident, however, that various features of the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism may be associated with coal mining machines of various other types.

The mining machine disclosed herein is of the same general character as that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 172,994, filed November 5, 1937, and which has since matured intoPatent No. 2,262,049, granted Nov. 11, 1941, and comprises a low compact machine frame 3 of generally rectangular shape having a smooth bottom surface 4 adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor. The machine frame comprises a front feed frame section 5, a central motor frame section 6 and a rear cutter frame section I, the frame sections being suitably rigidly united. Mounted within the front feed frame section 5 is a horizontal feed drum 8 with which a feed cable 9 cooperates in the feeding of the machine. Pivotally mounted at I0 on the cutter frame section, at the rear end of the machine frame, for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto in horizontal planes adjacent to the mine floor, is an elongated plane cutter bar or jib I I. The cutter bar projects laterally from the machine frame and has guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter bit or pick carrying cutter chain I2. The rear cutter frame section I includes a bottom plate I3 providing the bottom surface of the cutter frame section, and the lowermost portions of the cutter bits or picks of the cutter chain run in horizontal planes in close adjacency to the top plane surface I4 of this bottom plate, so that the bottom of the kerf cut by the cutter chain lies near to the mine floor on which the machine rests. As fully described in the copending application above referred to, the feed cable 9 is attachable to a swivelled hanger frame I5 which carries the cutter bar II, to efiect swinging of the cutter bar about its pivot, and the cutter bar may be locked in a right angle position at either side of the machine frame or in a position extending lengthwise of the machine by means of a conventional locking device. This locking device herein comprises a shiftable latch I6 guided in a vertical recess in the cutter frame section and having an eccentric operating means I! provided with an operating handle I8 conveniently located at the side of the machine frame. This latch is receivable in any one of a number of appropriately located locking recesses I9 in the cutter bar hanger frame I5.

A motor of the reversible type is arranged within the motor frame section 6, and by re Versing this motor the cutter chain 12 may be driven in either of opposite directions in accordance with the direction in which the mining 'machine is cutting. When the cutter bar is swung from the full line position shown in Fig; -1 into its opposite right angle position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l and shown in full lines in Fig. 11, to effect cutting in the reverse direction, it is,- of course, necessary to reverse the position of the cutter bits or picks on the cutter chain and to rewind 'reversely the feed cable 9 on the feed drum 8. This reversible cutting feature is common in longwall coal mining machines and is described in the copending application above referred to.

As shown in Fig. 7, fixed to the rear 'end of the motor power shaft is a bevel'motor pinion meshing with a bevel gear 2| which in turn drives a spur gear 22, the latter in turn meshing with a spur gear 23. The spur gear '23 is connectible by a conventional sliding gear clutch 24 to a vertical shaft 25 herein arranged coaxially with the cutter bar pivot Ill and suitably 3 journaled in the cutter frame section 1. Secured to the lower end of this shaft is a chain sprocket 26 which engages and drives the endless cutter chain [2. The hanger frame 15 is swivelly mounted on bearing sleeves '21 supported by a cylindric bearing support 28 formed on the cutter frame section. Extending horizontally across the cutter frame section at the inner end of the machine frame is a cuttings-receiving chamber29 through which the cutter chain l2 passes as it circulates about the cutter bar and around the drive sprocket 25, this chamber being located immediately above the bottom plate 13 and beneath the hanger frame bearing mounting 21, 28. when the sliding clutch 24 is connected, the cutter chain l2 may be rapidly circulated about the cutter bar through the gearing above described.

As is also fully described in the copending application above referred to, during the making of a cut the cutter bar H may be swung by the feed cable 9 horizontally from a position extending lengthwise of the machine frame to the right angle position shown in full lines in Fig.

1, or to the dotted line position shown in that figure, and locked to the machine frame by the latch it, it being understood that during the swinging movement of the cutter bar the cuttings-conveying mechanism I is detached from.

the mining machine. When the cutter bar is locked in a right angle position at either side of the machine frame and the cutter bar is sumped into the coal, the feed cable may be detached from the cutter bar hanger frame 55 and extended, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, longitudinally in a forward direction and connected at its free end to an anchor jack located in adjacency to the coal face in advance of the mining machine. anism l is then attached to the trailing end of the mining machine at the rear side of the cutter bar, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and as the cutter chain l2 rapidly circulates about the cutter bar and the feed cable 9 is wound in by the feed drum 8, the mining machine is fed bodily along the coal face to make a horizontal cut in the coal near the floor level, and during the making of the cut the cuttings vor gum created by the cutters of the cutter chain will be,

From the foregoing it is evident that The cuttings-conveying mech,

' thereon.

to a'larg'e extent, removed .by .the conveying mechanism from the neighborhood of the cutter chain and mechanically'conveyed to:a convenient point of disposal, as will later be explained. As the mode of operation of a longwall coal mining machine of the type disclosed is well known to those skilled in the art,'further description thereof is herein unnecessary.

The cuttings-conveying mechanism I comprises a suitable casing 30=toenclose the working parts, provided with means for its convenient attachmentto the cutter frame section I of the mining machine. A detachabletop plate 3| of the cutter frame section projects rearwardly in overhanging relation with the bottom plate l3, and this top plate has a sheet metal cover 32. The casing 30 consists of an upper casing part or head 33 and a detachable bottom plate 34, the latter having a smooth bottom surface 35 flush with the bottom surface of the machine frame and likewise adapted to rest upon and slide over the mine floor. The bottom plate 34 and the upper casing head 33 are secured together by tie bolts 36, one of 'Which is shown in Fig. 15, and a chamber 31 is provided transversely between the upper casing head and the bottom plate 34. This chamber 31 opens forwardly at 38 within the cuttings-receiving chamber 29 of the mining machine, and opens rearwardly at 39 to provide for the discharge of the cuttings into the machine track. Secured, :as by screws, to the rearward overhanging portion of the top plate 3|, at the opposite sides thereof, are brackets 40, 40 providing parallel longitudinal guideways 41 for receiving lateral guides 42 on the conveyor casing head 33. The conveyor casing is movable inwardly within-the bracket guideways into abutting relation .at 43 with a plane abutment surface on :the cutter frame section 'l'of .parts together extend through openings in the projections and are threaded within apertures in the lugs 46. Tightening nuts threaded on the bolts engage the upper surfaces of the projections 45. The upper casing part 33 has also i formed thereon, on the opposite sides thereof,

vertically spaced lugs 41 providing slots 48 there- 'between, and pivotally mounted on vertical pivot pins 49 carried by the brackets 40 are eye-bolts 56 having adjustable wing nuts '51 threaded These eye-bolts are swingable horizontally inwardly into the slots 48, and when the wing nuts are tightened the conveyor casing 3B1is clamped'tightly against the cutter frame section of the mining machine. When these wing nuts are loosened and the eye-bolts are swung outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, theconveyor frame may be quickly detached as a unit from the mining machine.

As illustrated, within the transverse chamber 3! of the conveyor casing is mounted for rotation about an upright axis inclined slightly with respect to the vertical, an impeller-like rotor 52 consisting'of a central hub or arbor '53 having paddle-like impeller blades or vanes 54 extending outwardly therefrom and which are'prefe ably curved; in the manner shown in Fig. 8. Arranged above the bottom plate 34 of the conveyor casing and fitting against the lower side of the rotor in coaxial relation therewith is a circular table 55 which rotates with the rotor but is of a diameter greater than the rotor diameter so as to provide a marginal portion to underlie the orbital path of the cutter bits or picks of the inner portion of the return run of the cutter chain. The rearward edge of the bottom plate [3 of the cutter frame section I is arcuately cut away to receive the marginal portion of the table and the forward portion of the bottom plate 34, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The bottom plate 34 of the conveyor casing has an annular portion or sealing rim 56 which has a close running fit with the revolving table, so that entry of dirt to the space beneath the table is substantially prevented. The hub 53 of the rotor has a cylindric tubular projection 51 extending upwardly therefrom and the upper end of this projection is journaled in a ball bearing 58 supported within the hub 59 of a cam plate 60. Fitting within the lower portion of the rotor hub 53 is a collar having a downwardly projecting cylindric tubular portion 62 journaled on a bearing 63 supported by a stub shaft 64 integral with the bottom plate 34. The rotor hub is fixed to the collar as by screws 65, and the table is also secured by screws 66 to the rotor 52.

The means for driving the impeller rotor 52 and table 55 comprises a spur gear 61 having its hub keyed to the upper end of the cutter chain drive shaft 25 of the mining machine. The drive shaft 25 is preferably journaled in a bearing supported within the top plate 3| of the cutter frame section, and the gear 61 is dished so that it surrounds the shaft bearing, in the manner shown in Fig. '7. The gear 61 meshes with a spur gear 68 likewise journaled within'a bearing supported within the top plate 3|, and this gear meshes with and drives a spur gear 69 formed integral with a vertical conveyor drive shaft 10. The shaft 10 is journaled at its upper end within a bearing H supported within the overhanging portion of the top plate 3l' and at its lower end within a bearing 12 supported within a detachable bearing bracket 13 suitably secured to the cutter frame section I of the mining machine. Keyed to the lower end of the shaft 10 is a bevel gear 74 which meshes with a bevel gear 15 formed integral with a shaft 16. The shaft 16 is arranged coaxially with the rotor and table and extends axially through the rotor hub 53, and is journaled at its upper end within a bearing 11 supported within the tubular projection 51 and at its lower end within a bearing 18 supported within the collar 6|. Splined at 19 to the shaft 16 is a shiftable dog clutch member 80 having clutch teeth which engage clutch teeth 8| formed on the collar 6| secured to the rotor hub 53. A coil spring, surrounding the shaft 16 and arranged within the tubular projection 51, acts on the clutch member 80 yieldingly to maintain the clutch teeth in engagement. The cooperating clutch teeth are so formed as to slip relative to each other upon yielding of the spring irrespective of the direction of rotation of the shaft 16. The clutch thus provided is spring-loaded by means of the spring, so that if obstruction is offered to the rotary movement of the table or rotor, automatic slippage of the clutch will occur until such time as obstruction is removed, thereby to prevent breakage of the parts. From the foregoing it is evident that whenever the cutter chain is driven in one direction the conveyor mechanism is always simultaneously driven in the opposite direction.

Each two adjacent impeller blades or vanes 54 of the rotor have between them a pusher plate or discharge arm 82 which at one end carries an apertured lug adapted to fit between apertured lugs extending from the outer ends of the rotor blades, the latter and the pusher plate being pivotally connected together by means of a pin 83 which extends through the alined apertures in the lugs. Each pusher plate or discharge arm carries a pin 84 having an antifriction roller 85 and which extends into a cam slot 86 in the cam plate 60. The cam slot 86 is so shaped that each pusher plate or discharge arm is moved inwardly within the space between the adjacent impeller vanes or blades as it approaches the position where the cuttings are received on the revolving table, so that the cuttings can enter the space between the impeller vanes of the rotor, and is moved outwardly as it approaches the place of discharge, so as to push the cuttings out of the space between the vanes transversely over the rearward margin of the table through the discharge opening 39 of the conveyor casing.

The impeller rotor 52 is reversible so as to operate in either of opposite directions in accordance with the direction of cutting of the mining machine, and the cam plate 60 is shiftable into different positions so that the pivotal movement of the pusher plates or arms may be controlled, thereby to effect discharge of the cuttings nearer the side of the machine away from the coal face than to the other side irrespective of the direction of rotation of the rotor. The cam plate 60 is preferably circular in form, as shown in Fig. 13, and is rotatably mounted at 81 within the upper part of the'conveyor casing. A retaining cap 88 is secured, as by screws, to the cam plate hub 59, and this retaining plate overlies a portion of the upper casing part to secure the cam plate in position within the easing. The cam plate is provided at its margin with a radially located socket 90 for the reception of a suitable turning instrument, such as a hand bar. For locking the cam plate in its different adjusted positions there is provided a springpressed locking pin 9| (Fig. 10) guided within a bore in the upper part of the conveyor casing and having a suitable operating handle 92. Spaced locking apertures 93 in the cam plate are adapted to receive the locking pin. It is accordingly evident that when the locking pin 9| is released from the locking apertures in the cam plate, the latter may be shifted in one position or the other by the turning bar.

There are provided transposable guards 94 and 95 for partially closing the sides of the conveyor casing chamber 31, and there is also provided a transposable curved guard 96 which fits against the top and bottom walls'of the cuttings-receiving chamber within the cutter frame section of the mining machine at the side of the latter away from the coal face, and these guards cooperate to confine the cuttings within the conveyor casing for removal by the table, impeller rotor and pusher plates so that the cuttings are effectually conveyed from the cuttings-receiving chamber 29 rearwardly through the conveying mechanism and discharged into the machine track at the trailing end of the machine. When the conveying mechanism is reversed, these guards may be detached and transposed in inverted position to the opposite sides of the conveyor frame, as will now'be explained. The guard 94 may be termeda cuttings-deflecting guard since it carries a deflecting plate, 97 with which the smooth outer curvedwalls, 98 of the pusher plates or arms 82 engage. for insuring complete discharge of the cuttings rearwardly through the casing discharge opening 39 and at the proper point nearer the side of the machine farthest away from the coal-face than the other side. At the face sideof the conveyor casing is the guard 95 whichprovides, a curvedwall 99 closing the face side of the, conveyor: chamber. These guards 94 and 95 are held. in place on the conveyor casing by detachable. pins Illli, one: of which is shown in Fig. 15, insertible through alined apertures in lugs m on the guards and the-apertures in the casing projections; A and the bottom lugs 46. When these retaining pins are withdrawn upwardly from the lug apertures, the guards may be readily detached from the conveyor casing, and when. inverted: may be transposed to the opposite sideof the conveyor casing in an obvious manner, and the pins reinserted in the lug apertures againto hold the guards in place.

The guard 95 has associated therewith a cuttings-deflecting means for reducing the possibility of a substantial portion of vthe cuttings being carried back intothe kerf by the return run of the cutter chain. This deflecting means comprises sets of spring fingers I92 composed of sets of vertical laminated slotted plates secured, as by rivets, to a block IE3 and being interposed between the block and inner plates I04.

The rivets also secure an inner member "35 and an outer member Hi6 to the block, the latter member having an apertured lug Ill! through which one, of the guard retaining pins. Hi0 is insertible. A pair of the. casing tie bolts 36 are of square cross sections (Fig. 8) and the inner plates I04 of the deflectingmeans engage the outer fiat sides of one of these square bolts, in the manner shown in Fig. 8, to hold the deflecting fingers in proper position. The cutter bits or picks of the return run of the cutter chain run close to these spring fingers so that the cuttings are deflected outof the path of the chain and directed inwardly toward the receiving portion of the revolving table, and in the event that the cutters or picks shouldcontact the spring fingers, no damage would occur since the fingers would yield upon such contact. When the guard 95 is released by withdrawal of the retaining pins lllil, the deflecting means may be readily released from the bolt 36 and when inverted may be transposed to the opposite side. of the conveyor frame in engagement with the other square bolt 36, to deflect the cuttings from the cutter chain when the latter is operating in the reversedirection.

If desired there may suitably be associated with the conveying mechanism. a conveyor arranged to receive the cuttings or gum discharged from the revolving table for depositing them at a more convenient place on the mine floor. The conveyor may be bodily adjustable to varythe position of deposit therefrom.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism is provided especially designed for attachment to a coal mining machine whereby the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the endless cutter chain may be efiectually removed from the path of the return run of. the cutter chain and conveyed to a convenient point of disposal. It

will also be evident thatby the provision of the revolving table having a marginal portionthereof underlying the return run of the cutter chain, the cuttings 'are effectually removed from the cutter chain path, and by associating the rotary pusher plate impeller. device with the table, the cuttings are efficiently removed from the table and'positively ejected from the conveying mech anism into the machine track. It will further be seen that by the provision of the reversible impeller rotor and table together with the shiftab-le cam plate and transposable guards, the conveying mechanism may operate in either of opposite directions irrespective of the direction of cutting of the mining machine. other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent'to those skilled in the art.

This is one. of two applications being concurrently placed on file and relating to the same general subject matter. The other,- application Ser. No. 305,331, is intended to carry the claims directed to common patentable subject matter, and to cover the feature of the cuttingsconveying mechanism including a revolving table having a marginal portion underlying the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and an associated rotary impeller, device for receiving the cuttings from the table and positively ejecting the cuttings from the table. In the present application a reversing feature and detail improvements including meansfor controlling the point of discharge of the cuttings from the table are claimed.

While there is in this application specifically described. one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spiritor the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a revolvingtable having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged asto be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttings from the path'of the cutter chain, a. rotary impeller device arranged coaxially with and above said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table and for positively ejecting the cuttings from said table, and deflecting means associated with said rotary impeller device and positionable for efi'ecting discharge of the cuttings therefrom, irrespective of which side of the machine is nearerthe coal face, at a point nearer the side .of the machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side.

2. A. cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted These and peller device and positionable for effecting discharge of the cuttings therefrom, irrespective of which side of the machine is nearer the coal face, at a point nearer the side of the machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side, said rotary impeller device including at least one pusher plate adapted to sweep over the table and having a smooth arcuate exterior surface and said deflecting means including a vertical deflector plate with which said arcuate plate surface engages,

3. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising in combination, a cuttingsconveying mechanism attachable to the mining machine for removing the cuttings from the neighborhood of the return run of the cutter chain, and means for attaching the conveying mechanism to and supporting the same on the mining machine comprising feet on the lower portion of the conveying mechanism adapted to engage a bottom part of the mining machine and releasable holding devices near the upper part of the conveying mechanism adapted to clamp the latter against the frame of the mining machine with said feet in contact with the lower part of the mining machine.

4. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying a reversible endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a cuttings-conveying mechanism attachable to the mining machine including a reversible impeller device for removing the cuttings from the neighborhood of the return run of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the cutter chain, said impeller device having one or more pivoted pusher plates and shiftable cam means for controlling the pivotal movement of said pusher plate or plates to effect discharge of the cuttings at a point nearer the side of the mining machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side irrespective of the direction of rotation of said impeller device.

5. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying a reversible endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a cuttings-conveying mechanism attachable to the mining machine including a reversible impeller device for removing the cuttings from the neighborhood of the return run of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the cutter chain, and transposable means for controlling the position of discharge of said impeller device so that the latter always discharges at a point nearer the side of the machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side irrespective of the direction of its operation.

6. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying a reversible endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a cuttings-conveying mechanism attachable to the mining machine including a reversible impeller device for removing the cuttings from the neighborhood of the return run of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the cutter chain, said impeller device including one or more pivoted pusher plates and a shiftable cam means for controlling the pivotal movement of said pusher plate or plates irrespective of the direction of operation of the impeller device whereby the cuttings are always discharged at a point nearer the side of the machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side.

7. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying a reversible endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a cuttings-conveying mechanism attachable to the mining machine at the trailing end thereof for removing the cuttings from the path of the return run of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the latter including a reversible revolving table having a marginal portion adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a reversible impeller device coaxial with said table for removing the cuttings from said table irrespective of the direction of rotation of the latter.

8. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine having a cutter bar carrying a reversible endless circulating cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a cuttings-conveying mechanism attachable to the mining machineat the trailing end thereof for removing the cuttings from the path of the return run of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel of the latter including a reversible revolving table having a marginal portion adapted to underliethe return run of the cutter chain, and a reversible impeller device coaxial With said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table and for positively ejecting the cuttings from said table irrespective of the direction of table rotation.

9. A cuttings-conveying mechanism for coal mining machines of the endless circulating cutter chain type comprising, in combination, a revolving table having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the endless cutter chain of the mining machine to remove the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain, resilient deflector means adapted to be located in close adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain for deflecting the cuttings from the cutter chain and for directing the cuttings toward the revolving table, and a rotary impeller device coaxial with the table for receiving the cuttings upon the table and discharging the cuttings therefrom.

10. In a cuttings-conveying mechanism for coal mining machines of the endless circulating cutter chain type, the combination comprising a reversible revolving table havinga marginal portion adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain of the mining machine for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel thereof, and a reversible impeller device coaxial with said table for removing the cuttings from said table irrespective of the direction of table rotation.

11. In a cuttings-conveying mechanism for coal mining machines of the endless circulating cutter chain type, the combination comprising a reversible revolving table having a marginal portion adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain of the mining machine for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel thereof, a reversible impeller device coaxial with said table for removing the cuttings from said table irrespective of the direction of table rotation, and means for effecting discharge of the cuttings from the table at a point nearer the side'of the mining machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side irrespective of the direction of rotation of said impeller device.

12. In a cuttings-conveying mechanism for coal mining machines of the endless circulating cutter chain type, the combination comprising a reversible revolving table having a marginal portion adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain of the mining machine for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain irrespective of the direction of travel thereof, a reversible impeller device coaxial with said table and having movable cuttings-discharge elements for removing the cuttings from the table irrespective of the direction of table rotation, and means for effecting discharge of the cuttings from the table at a point nearer the side of the mining machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side irrespective of the direction of rotation of said impeller device, said dischargeefiecting means including a transposable deflecting plate adapted to cooperate with said discharge elements of said impeller device.

13. In a cuttings-conveying mechanism for coal mining machines of the endless circulating cutter chain type, the combination comprising a rotary impeller device adapted to operate in either of opposite directions in accordance with the direction of cutting of the coal mining machine for removing the cuttings from the path of the return run of the cutter chain of the mining machine, said reversible impeller device including at least one pivoted discharge arm and cam means for controlling the pivotal movement of said discharge arm, and means "for shifting said cam means into diiferent positions so that the pivotal movement of the discharge arm is modified during difierent directions of rotation of said impeller device.

14. In a cuttings-conveying mechanism for coal mining machines of the endless circulating cutter chain type, the combination comprising a rotary impeller device adapted to operate in either of opposite directions in accordance with the direction of cutting of a coal mining machine for removing the cuttings from the path of the return run of the cutter chain of the mining machine, said reversible impeller device including at least one pivoted discharge arm and cam means for controlling the pivotal movement of said discharge arm, means for shifting said cam means into diiferent positions so that the pivotal movement of the discharge arm is modified during different directions of rotation of said impeller device, and means associated with said discharge arm for effecting discharge of the cuttings from said impeller device at a point nearer the side of the machine farthest away from the coal face than to the other side irrespective of the direction of rotation of said impeller device.

DWIGHT R. RICHARDS. 

